Statement of the USF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida Concerning the Presidential Search

The University of South Florida is conducting a search for a new president. On September 28, the Executive Committee of the University of South Florida composed the following statement concerning the search.

The University of South Florida is a global research university serving the Tampa Bay Area, the state of Florida, the United States of America, and the world. Paraphrasing former UC Berkeley Chancellor Clark Kerr, as USF increasingly engaged the community, the university was and will continue to be inspired and strengthened by the opportunities of that participation. USF is dedicated to preparing students for the future, conducting research and developing solutions for the problems of the future, and engaging the community for success in the future.

We are seeking a new president, one who has the same spirit as former President Judy Genshaft expressed when she arrived and said, "I would say that the Legislature and the people of Tampa made a very savvy investment fifty years ago" when they created USF.

We need an administrator with the academic credibility and strength of character to provide directions to the USF Board of Trustees and the SUS Board of Governors to move USF forward on the global stage. We would strongly prefer a president with an earned doctorate degree, at least ten years of higher level administrative experience at the university level, and at least five years’ experience as a leader at a Carnegie Mellon Research I university.

(Signed)

Arthur Shapiro, W. Steve Lang, Greg McColm, Sonia Ramirez Wohlmuth, Robert Welker, Karin Braunsberger
Executive Committee of the USF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida

We encourage everyone to follow the search, and to fill in the survey "on specific qualities [the Search Committee] should look for in the new president." The deadline for submitting the survey has been extended to October 20.